5, Correspondence.

E.B.D.— Can you offer an explanation of “The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened” (Rev. 15:55And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: (Revelation 15:5))? The temple (naos) refers only to the “holy” and “most holy” places, and does not include the courts where the brazen altar and the laver were. The tabernacle of testimony takes in the whole structure. The prophet therefore sees the holy place in heaven, no longer on earth, and from thence issue the messengers of judgment.
DAN.— “Let the dead bury their dead.” What does it mean? Let those who are spiritually dead and utterly unawakened to the claims of the kingdom of God allow their filial feelings to keep them at home with their fathers till their death; but he was to go at once and preach the kingdom. It is hardly to be supposed that his father was lying dead at that moment. But he was putting Christ in the second place. Compare “Seek ye first” and “Suffer me first” (Matt. 6:3333But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33); Luke 9:59, 6059And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:59‑60)). Who is the son of peace? (Luke 10:66And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. (Luke 10:6)). It should be “a,” not “the,” son of peace; and means one peacefully disposed towards them, who would welcome them to his hospitality. Compare “son of perdition,” “son of consolation,” “sons of this world, “sons of light.” Did eternal life come by doing the works of the law? What is the force of “This do, and thou shalt live” (Luke 10:2828And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (Luke 10:28))? The law offered life (Rom. 10:55For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:5)) but could not give it (Gal. 3:2121Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (Galatians 3:21)). The fault was with man who could not do what the law commanded. So it has always been true that the just lies by faith (Gal. 3:11-1211But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. (Galatians 3:11‑12)) and not by deeds of law.
W.H.P.— Why is it “fellowship with him” (God), and “fellowship one with another” (1 John 1:6, 76If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:6‑7))? It must be remembered that John writes of the absolute spiritual status of the believer before God. So that “walking in the light” refers to a Christian, and “walking in darkness” an unbeliever. Verse 6 is a solemn test of one’s position. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” It is an utter impossibility for one doing the works of darkness to have fellowship with Him Who is light, for that is the privilege of one walking in the light. In verse 7, we have two additional privileges of those who walk there: — (1) fellowship with one another; and (2) cleansing by the blood of Jesus. It is not thought necessary to state in verse? what is implied in verse 6, viz.— that we have fellowship with Him.
W.E.— Why the change from “love of Christ” to “love of God” (Rom. 8:35, 3935Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35)
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39))? In verse 35 Christ is named, as following the preceding verse, with which it is connected. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ that died, &c.? In verse 39 the apostle rises to the grand climax. The source of this love is God Himself. Notice even here God’s love is said to be “in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:3939Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)). In what way did Balaam cast a stumbling block before Israel (Rev. 2:1414But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14))? It would seem the women of Midian are blamed (Num. 31:1616Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. (Numbers 31:16)). Balaam was responsible, for it was by his advice that the Midianites tempted Israel in this way. See both the texts you refer to. Is it implied that the burnt offering (Lev. 16:2424And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. (Leviticus 16:24)) was not of a sweet savor, since that fact is not stated? We think not, as even the lowest form of the burnt sacrifice is stated to be of a sweet savor unto Jehovah (Lev. 1:1717And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. (Leviticus 1:17)).
S.G.— What part should Christians take in the celebration of the coming Jubilee? The part of Christians is clearly to give thanks to God for His answer to the prayers of 1 Timothy 2:2,2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Timothy 2:2) in that we have been enabled for so long to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. What does honor the king” mean (1 Peter 2:1717Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17))? Render due respect and obedience to the one placed in supreme authority. Starting hymns. As a rule, we should say it would be a breach of decorum; but there may be exceptions.
A.M.H.— Please explain Romans 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28). What is your difficulty? Every event of our lives is so controlled by our God as to result in blessing for us.
M.W.— Kindly explain Romans 7:2525I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:25). It is the conclusion of the experiences of Romans 7:2525I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:25). and happy the soul that has reached it. The two natures are contrasted in their spheres of action which will never change their characters. The mind serves the law of God; the flesh the law of sin. Though we should remember the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.
A.J.K.— What is the meaning of the kingdom of heaven suffering violence (Matt. 11:1212And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12))? It is never an easy matter to be a follower of Christ. The “violence” here is strong energetic faith, breaking down every difficulty which the Jews would find in entering the kingdom when the King was to be crucified and then to depart to be unseen in the heavens. Even John, the greatest born of women, was stumbled because there was no outward display of the kingdom-glory.
W.T.— “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:1010Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (2 Peter 1:10)). Please explain. It means exactly what it says. We are to give the most earnest heed that our whole conduct may correspond with the place to which we are called and for which we are chosen, verse 5 to.8 show what we are to be diligent in. What are the “altar” and “camp” (Heb. 13:10-1310We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:10‑13))? We have here a contrast between Christianity and Judaism. Those who were serving the tabernacle (Jews) had no right to partake of the “altar” (1 Cor. 10:1818Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? (1 Corinthians 10:18)), that is, to have communion with Christ. The allusion is to such sacrifices as the priests partook of in the holy place (Num. 18:9, 109This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons. 10In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee. (Numbers 18:9‑10)). The “camp” is the place of worldly religious profession, outside of which the Christian is called to take his stand. In such a place Christ suffered— “without the gate.” It is ours to be associated with Him, “bearing his reproach.” See the action of Moses (Ex. 33:7-107And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. 8And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. 9And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. (Exodus 33:7‑10)).
W.C.— Accepting money from people of the world for Christian work. We certainly ought not to encourage unbelievers in the thought that by contributing to a good work they qualify themselves to obtain salvation which is “without money and without price.” “Thy money perish with thee,” said the apostle to an unconverted man, “because thou halt thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” (Acts 8:2020But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (Acts 8:20)). See also 3 John 77Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. (3 John 7).